Yadav’s 4 wickets lead India to 17-run win over Australia

Leg-spin bowler Poonam Yadav took four wickets for 19 runs against defending champion Australia on the way to a 17-run win in the opening match of the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup on Friday.

After coming into the attack, Yadav took out Australia batter Ellyse Perry and was named player of the match. In front of a record Australian crowd of 13,432 for a stand-alone women’s match, the hosts lost 4-15.

Set 133 for victory, Australia was cruising at 2-67 after a 34-ball half-century from Alyssa Healy, but Yadav helped bowl Australia out for 115. Deepti Sharma’s 49 led India to its total of 132-4.

After 16-year-old Shafali Verma (29 off 15) got India off to a strong start at 40-0 after four overs, Jess Jonassen took 2-24 to close the visitors down in the middle overs.

Perry also took 1-15 — including the key wicket of Verma — from three overs, while Delissa Kimmince had 1-24 from four.

Yadav removed Rachael Haynes and Perry in successive balls the next over with wrong’uns. The first completely deceived Haynes to have her stumped for 6, before Perry went first ball when she was bowled between bat and pad.

Yadav could have had a hat trick when Jonassen edged her behind next ball, but wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia could not glove the chance.